UNC-Charlotte has been recognized by local environmental advocates for excellence in clean transportation and clean fuel activities.
The university received the Clean Cities award for its plans to displace almost 10,000 gallons of petroleum annually through various conservation initiatives.
Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition gives the annual award to organizations that recognize the environmental, economic and national security benefits of reducing fossil fuel use.
"The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has accepted the challenge of reducing our use of petroleum products by 20 percent between 2005 and Jan. 1, 2010," UNC-C Plant Maintenance Supervisor Larry Lane stated in an e-mail.
Since 2005, UNC-C has replaced gas-powered golf carts with "neighborhood electric vehicles," which are powered by rechargeable batteries and an electric motor.
UNC-C now has 56 such vehicles performing on-campus functions such as grounds keeping and maintenance.
The use of these electric vehicles is projected to reduce petroleum consumption by 6,500 gallons each year, a savings of $6,400 annually. Benefits also include a significant reduction in noise and air pollution.
Using ethanol fuels in place of petroleum produces less carbon dioxide. UNC-C plans to use 10 percent ethanol fuel and 20 percent biodiesel fuel to save a projected 4,400 gallons of petroleum each year.
UNC-C also plans to install three fuel tanks, including one 12,000-gallon, 85 percent ethanol tank.
"I have not yet heard any official student response to the Clean Cities award," Lane stated in an e-mail. "But I know they will be pleased due to ongoing support of our green initiatives."
Most UNC-system schools have sustainability specifications for all new campus building designs, and a state mandate requires all public facilities to reduce petroleum consumption by 30 percent, compared to 2003 figures, by 2015.
UNC-Chapel Hill has also invested in electric vehicles, but only about a dozen are used by the Grounds, Building Services and Housekeeping Departments.
Last year UNC-CH installed an 8,000-gallon fuel tank to service 200 flexible-fuel vehicles capable of running on 85 percent ethanol fuel. Two main gasoline tanks already on campus are to be converted to 10 percent ethanol fuel.
Additionally, 90 percent of UNC-CH fleet vehicles switched to synthetic oil to reduce petroleum-based oil use by 3,300 quarts per year. Of the 42 vehicles purchased last year for use on campus, 69 percent are able to run on biodiesel or ethanol fuel.
UNC-CH has also adapted both the Point-2-Point bus fleet and the Robertson Scholars bus to use biodiesel fuel. Also, all diesel vehicles operated by UNC-CH are eligible to fill up on fuel at the town of Chapel Hill's biodiesel pump.
Conservation efforts are unique at each school. UNC-Asheville's Craft Campus has a partnership with Buncombe County to return a former county landfill to productive use. Methane from the capped landfill will then be the primary energy source for the campus.
There are no set requirements as to how schools must reduce their petroleum use, but that might change.
"We are looking at a systemwide policy," said Shari Harris, assistant vice president of finance for the UNC system.
Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
